Subject Life (WT)Christoph Ph. Nick

Subject Life (WT)

Barmbek (Hamburg, Germany) meets Limulunga (Western Province, Zambia) – A group of six German schoolgirls from Hamburg travel to the African Bush to meet with their Zambian contemporaries. Girls from two different worlds become friends and meet each other again in Hamburg a few months later.

A documentary film by Christoph Ph. Nick

We are filming a documentary about a school exchange between a German school and a HIV/AIDS-orphanage project in the Western Province of Zambia.

What is this project all about?

The film begins with a group of six schoolgirls with their two teachers from Hamburg, aged 16 to 18 who are travelling to Limulunga, a small village in the Western Province of Zambia (Southern Africa). There, they meet with their Zambian contemporaries, who live in a privately founded and run HIV-/AIDS orphanage (the "Liyoyelo Project"), which is actively supported by the German school since 2010.
The girls with the different backgrounds spend two intense weeks together, get to know each other and become friends.
After the visit of the German schoolgirls, two of the Zambian girls make their way to Germany to get schooling and learn about the lives of their German visitors and supporters. They will however not only stay for 2 weeks, but for 6 months.

The camera becomes the girls' constant companion. They do however also film and document their own experiences, which gives a very personal insight to the viewer. We are learning about their expectations and anticipation during the preparations of the journey and how those develop over time. The audience gets a personal insight into the thoughts and reflections of the girls from both sides - the Zambians and the Germans.

The second part of the film consists of the two Zambian girls' and their two social workers' journey to Germany. They also will experience a culture shock. Upon their arrival during the European Winter, they will experience fierce coldness, which will force them into gloves and boots for the first time in their lives. They will live with the families of their German friends who visited them in Zambia before. Together, they will go to school, travel on trains and undergrounds for their first time and go out to eat Kebab – they will get to know and live the daily life of their German friends.

STYLE
Moving, emotional, informative, empathetic and authentic documentary with very personal insights and self-shot materials of the protagonists.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

AIMS
One of the aims is to document the exchange journeys, which are marked by the personal experiences of the girls from two very different cultural backgrounds and lives. We want to give an insight into the lives of the Zambian HIV-/AIDS orphans, depict their joys and challenges and contrast those to the ones of the German visitors. We want to show how immensely different the living conditions are and how the two groups experience and see them. How they reflect upon them and what happens to them.

We want to accompany the Zambian group in Germany and document their experiences, feelings and thoughts. We aim to learn how their lives change for them, how they change and what they think about it.

One of the major goals is to find a suitable German broadcaster to air the finished film. Also film festivals are going to be a major target. This is to reach the largest possible audience in order to increase awareness of the "Liyoyelo Project" in Zambia so that more donations can be raised for this outstanding project and to share this unique and special exchange programme with a broad public.

TARGET AUDIENCE
- pupils and youth from 12 years
- young adults, adults from all social backgrounds
- people who are looking for projects worth supporting with donations
- adults with income
- viewers of public rather than private TV stations
- people seeking for informative, authentic and entertaining TV programs
- teachers, parents, interculturally minded, Africa-lovers

Why would you support this project?

Not only because of the unique rewards from Zambia! ;-)

But also, because with your help to realise this film, you directly raise attention for the AIDS orphanage project "Liyoyelo" in Limulunga, Zambia. Only through broader media coverage can the support for the project grow and the livelihoods of the girls be sustained.

Furthermore, you facilitate the documentation of this unparalleled exchange programme. It is going to have a profound, long-term effect on their lives. The participants from both continents are going to benefit vastly from the experiences gathered through these intercultural exchanges.

And of course to demonstrate that also in Germany, crowdfunding can help independent filmmakers to create ambitious, sophisticated and interesting films.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded?

The money raised with this campaign will help us pay for the first part of the project: Filming of the events that take place at specific points in time.

The journey of the German group takes place in September. The preparations for the trip in Hamburg are also being filmed in the weeks before it. The itinerary for the Zambian group is not entirely fixed, yet. It is planned however that they arrive in Germany at the end of 2012/beginning of 2013.
There is a professional two-person production team filming in Hamburg and one in Zambia.
The money will be used to finance the planning (pre-production phase), the shooting (production) and to pay for the necessary equipment and travel costs.
According to our current plans, we will probably need at least 17.000.- Euros for that. Half of it, we would like to raise via this campaign – and maybe, we can even surpass that aim with your help!

Who are the people behind the project?

Throughout the entire term, the pupils from Stadtteilschule Barmbek, Abteilung Fraenkelstraße organise fundraisers to collect money for their friends in Zambia. Once per year, six schoolgirls accompanied by two teachers travel to Zambia to meet with their friends and to actively support the orphanage. This exchange also brings great benefit to the schoolgirls from Hamburg, as they learn about a completely different world, which in turn helps them to understand their own situation. The student exchange in 2011 was a huge success and is planned as a regular programme in the future.

With the help of the German based society Limulunga e.V., retired German teacher Michael Scholz and his Lozi wife Anni from Limulunga were able to found a small village for orphans and elderly women in need in the year 2006.
Currently, 21 girls and four elderly women live in Liyoyelo. All of the girls lost their parents to HIV and are now living in small groups in separate houses, where dedicated housemothers look them after. Apart from shelter, schooling, education, food and clothing, they receive love, solace, warmth and care. In the project, they learn about the risks and dangers of HIV to help prevent the spread of the disease. The elderly women can enjoy a dignified eventide even though they also lost all their relatives to HIV.

The Liyoyelo Community Trust is a small organization based in the village of Limulunga, western Zambia, responding to the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on local families and households. They are registered in Zambia as Company Limited by Guarantee (non profit making).

Their aims are to:
• initiate community projects that will address the needs of those who have no family members to look after them, e.g. orphans, vulnerable children, the elderly and other marginalized groups
• source funds for implementing, monitoring and evaluating these community projects
• set up Income Generating Activities (IGAs) which will contribute towards the recurrent expenditure for the operation of projects
• instill self-confidence in and solidarity amongst orphans, vulnerable children, the elderly and other marginalized groups
• enhance the inclusion and participation of orphans, vulnerable children, the elderly and other marginalized groups in all community development programmes and projects.

The person behind this film is documentary director and cameraman Christoph Ph. Nick, who has been living in Zambia for over two and a half years.
He accompanies the group from Germany on their excursions in Zambia. Due to his experience and knowledge of African and especially Zambian culture, he is the ideal director for the film. He quickly gains access to the local people, who trust him and do not regard him as a stranger or tourist, which is extremely important for the documentary work.
He is always cautious to portray reality in an authentic manner. He collaborates with Zambian colleagues, who also help to negotiate cultural and language barriers. His collaborations with local filmmakers are also an opportunity for him to share his professional and technical knowledge and to give workshops, through which his colleagues strongly benefit.
Additionally, he has close ties to colleagues in Hamburg, Germany, where he lived before moving to Zambia. Having worked on several youth- and school-related productions together, a cooperation for the planned film is obvious. His partners in Germany can cover the part of the story that takes place in Hamburg, minimizing production costs. The experience of previous collaborations with the partners in Hamburg guarantees a smooth production.

Legal notice

Crowdfunding is finished

The rewards can not be booked anymore. You find project updates in the blog.

1.00 €

Good karma!

The good conscience of having helped us and a big THANK YOU from all participants!

2 booked

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5.00 €

Postcard from the filming location

Every supporter who donates 5 Euros and tells us his postal address, the girls from the Liyoyelo project will send a handwritten postcard from Zambia.

4 booked

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8.00 €

Colourful bracelets from Liyoyelo orphanage

A bunch of thin, colourful bracelets made from recycled plastics support the girls in the village. They're just fun and add the little extra to your style.

2 booked

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10.00 €

Film Download

Every supporter donating 10 Euros receives an exclusive link to download the final film.

10 of 150 booked

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15.00 €

Small surprise package from Zambia

For 15 Euros you'll get a small surprise pack from Zambia. It's going to be made of monkey orange (www.savannahome.se), like the cute salt and pepper shaker, the colourful sugar bowl, napkin rings, funny cereal bowls, or handy key rings, handbags, or classic Christmas baubles.

0 booked

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20.00 €

Fashionable recycling shoulder bags from Liyoyelo

As seen in the pitch video: In the orphanage Liyoyelo (www.liyoyelo.com) the girls crochet trendy shoulder bags and other accessories from plastics. With this reward you'll not only safe the planet but set a new trend AND support the Liyoyelo project featured in the film.

1 booked

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25.00 €

Signed DVD by the director

We send every 25 Euro supporter a signed DVD of the final product.

16 of 100 booked

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30.00 €

Exclusive woodcarvings from Zambia

The perfect household add-on: be it a bowl, salad servers or a bottle opener - a wooden handicraft will bring the African feeling to your home.

1 booked

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35.00 €

Tie & dye fabric from Liyoyelo

The orphans love to tie and dye colourful materials, which are a perfect fit for tablecloths, cushions or skirts or for give-aways. Plus - you'll also support the project with this reward.

0 booked

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40.00 €

Truly African citenge (coloured cotton cloth)

Support us with 40 Euros and receive a 1.2 x 2 meter sized cotton cloth with happy African patterns.
Also perfect for creating tablecloths, cushions, skirts, curtains and alike

4 booked

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50.00 €

Woodcarvings from Zambia

For a support of 50 Euros you'll get a piece of art made from wood: the big five – elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo – or hippo, giraffe and antelopes will take a great decoration to your living room.

4 of 50 booked

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100.00 €

Thank you Credit

A mention of your name in the credits - that's what you get for only 100 Euros of support. We include a DVD of the film, of course.

6 booked

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500.00 €

Supporter Credit

A mention of your name as a supporter in the credits will cost you a donation of 500 Euros. Supporters automatically receive a full media package (film download, signed DVD, film premier invitation (excluding travel expenses)), AND a surprise package from Zambia.

1 booked

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1,000.00 €

Film godfather / godmother

If you want to become godfather (or godmother) of this project, you will receive personal e-mails every other week informing you about the progress, as well as being mentioned in the opening credits of the film! This package also includes a full media pack (film download, signed DVD, film premier invitation (excluding travel expenses)), and a Zambian surprise package.

1 of 5 booked

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2,500.00 €

Sponsor Credit

We include your corporate logo in the credits of the film as well as on all advertising media. All sponsors receive the full media pack (film download, signed DVD, film premier invitation (excluding travel expenses)), and a Zambian surprise package.

0 of 5 booked

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5,000.00 €

Co-Producer

Our Co-Producers are named in the opening credits and get their name mentioned on IMDB and Crew United. Co-Producers receive the full media pack (film download, signed DVD, film premier invitation (excluding travel expenses)), and a Zambian surprise package.